Men and boys in the U.S. account for 78 percent of all suicides, 80 percent of fatal heroin overdoses, and 98 percent of mass shooters. While suicides, substance use, and mass violence show variation by race/ethnicity, but the dominance of men is consistent in all categories.
It’s time to amplify the conversation about social norms, when it comes to masculinity.
In the United States, expectations for boys tend to center on dominance, control, avoiding weakness, and restricting or hiding emotions. These norms can be the most stringent during adolescence, partly due to policing by peers. Boys must prove their masculinity daily to peers, and should they falter, on average, boys have fewer coping skills than girls. In fact, a meta-analysis of coping studies concluded men were less likely than women to use every single coping skill included.
Instead, anger, violence, substance use, and other externalizing behaviors are the strategies often modeled for and employed by boys. Continuing to limit the social-emotional development of boys may have dire consequences for boys and even for those around them.
“Big boys don’t cry”
“Drugs not hugs”
“I’ll show them”
Reasons for hope
Thankfully, numerous programs (and even a film) are working to expand the definitions of manhood. Studies show that programs that build young men’s understanding of how masculine norms influence their behavior can produce healthy shifts in attitudes and behaviors. In the words of one such participant, “The ManKind Project gave me the opportunity to live a life of connection with the world around me, rather than isolation and fear.” Child Trends has also compiled research on ways to improve the healthy development of boys, ways to prevent or reduce socio-emotional difficulties in adolescents, and best practices in bullying prevention.
To read more of Andra Wilkinson, PhD., Research Scientist's brief, please click here.
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